Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-07-02
ooh EnoD -

"0h. Elleni"
There was no mistaking that heart
hungry cry; and as it left his lips, Ellen
laid hers upon them.
Then nothing shall come between us,
she said firmly. IT did not love you for
your strength; l loved you because you
were Evan. Dear, remember what / was
to promise you in the autumn-that sick
ness, misfortune, any evil that might come,
should find me beside you. Nay, not
word, unless you love me less than you
did before this befell you you do not,
Hvan?"
My darling, / never loved you as | love
you now; but"
Papa wants to say something 10 you"
she broke in, laying his mead gently back
on the pillows, and putting back the damp
hair from his forehead Remember, papa
is an old man, aud wiser than you or | !;
| and he knows his daughters heart, my
dearest; heed what he suggests"
Without any of the shy timidity which
| had characterized her, she bent over him,
laid her cheek to his for an instant, and
then glided away and poor Evan lay as
she left him, wondering at the thrills Of
| JOY that shot through his being, for all
| the gloomy prospect before him.
He was lying there with the whiteness of
| physical pain on his face but glow of
| lovelight in his eyes and q faint smile on
| his colorless lips, when Mr.. Morgan en-
| tered and went up 10 his couch.
| Heaven has seen fit to deprive you of
| one blessing, but as its law is one OF COM
pensation, it has given you the treasure of
a pure, young love, of which no misfortune
can deprive you. You asked for Ellen, and
promised her 10 you; then you could
have done without her; now you can
| Il 10 1naNr I,0r
| with you-as your wife"
| The rector's voice was not quite even as
he said the words, but on his kind old face
there was smile. And when Evan remon-
strated-vowed he loved Ellen too well to
sacrifice her, reminded Mr.. Morgan that he
would be useless cripple for his whole
future-the good man convinced him that
| all Ellens happiness lay in her nearness to
him, her power TO soothe his pain, the
| privilege of ministering to his weakness
and when he had finished, the young man's
eyes. so lately haggard with misery, were
dim with tears that welled up from heart
| overlooking with gratitude andjoy.
He had lost his perfection of manly grace
and strength, would never again walk the
earth with firm, springlng tread but love
was left him, and what would upright form
| and strength of limb have been to him if
love had been taken away?
So, a couple of days afterward by special
license, quiet ceremony was performed
in that quaint old-fashioned room, and
Ellen remained with her husband.
There We're long weeks of tender care on
her part, and pain borne with new and
gentle patience on his; then slowly, slowly
stole back strength and hope to the two
loving hearts; for physician young,
and with his soul in his profession, be-
cause he had lint recently launched his
bark of hope, with its freight of knowledge
them that he could give back all power
to the injured foot, if Evan would permit
an operation to be performed upon it by
himself and an older surgeon.
Evan consented, and for long weeks
| again he dared not move, lest the skill OF
the men should be put at naught.
Heaven alone knows what Ellen's love
and watchful care did for him during this
weary time of suffering
And then, at Christmas-tide, the crutch
was laid aside forever.
Evan Davies could walk the earth like
other men, save for a slight halt in his
step; and who in this great world, was
| happier than he as he drew his wife to his
bosom and kissed her with more than a
lovers tenderness?
at was not the skill of my physicians
dear one" he said softly. at was your
love that wrought my cure"
ut was that God loved you and ME, -
she answered, with touch of reverence
on the sweet face, that had lost its color in
her months of anxiety.
And Evan answered
He loved me well when he gave me 50
| sweet a wife, dear"
Was it not true?